Bill Brooks: Dinner by Design feast for the senses

There are dinner and cocktail parties and then there is Dinner by Design. The avant pairing of design, cuisine, art and culture saw scores of people gather at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) recently for the two-evening fete. Ten acclaimed artisans with expertise in interior design, architecture and event design transformed nine, 12 ft. by 12 ft. spaces and one 24 ft. by 24 ft. space into fantastical tablescapes providing the backdrop for the Cocktail Art event and the Gala Dinner. More than 400 guests gathered for Cocktail Art which featured canapes from Nicole Gourmet, Whitehall Restaurant chef Neil McCue, Vintage Chophouse executive chef Kaede Hirooka and Redwater Rustic Grille culinary director Duncan Ly as master mixologists Franz Swinton of Hotel Arts fame and Stuart Connoer from PRLR Lounge prepared myriad cocktails.

The Gala Dinner held the next evening was attended by 100 guests-each assigned to one of the 10 designer tablescapes. The five-course meal was created by executive chef Brett Turner who made a special guest appearance from Vancouver. Proceeds from Dinner by Design were directed to ACAD and Contemporary Calgary.

Telus Spark president and CEO Jennifer Martin (right) and Linda Heimlich were among the select group of guests wined and dined at Dinner by Design held at ACAD.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

Dr. Farida Saher and IPL’s Jim Madro pose for the lens at Dinner by Design held at ACAD. The glam gourmet evening featured ten distinctive designer-created settings in which guests sipped and supped- all in support of ACAD and Contemporary Calgary.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

Pictured, from left, at Dinner by Design held at ACAD are Audi Royal Oak’s Monica Aroroa Bir, Little Caesar’s Pizza owner Atul Bir and PR wizard Ellen Parker. The glam gourmet evening featured ten distinctive designer-created settings in which guests sipped and supped- all in support of ACAD and Contemporary Calgary.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

Guests having a marvellous time at Dinner by Design held at ACAD included, from left, Collaborative Design Group’s Chris Salas, Fiasco Gelato’s James Boettcher, Collaborative’s Laurie McBain and Model Milk’s Justin Leboe. The glam gourmet evening featured ten distinctive designer-created settings in which guests sipped and supped- all in support of ACAD and Contemporary Calgary.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

Pictured, from left, at Dinner by Design held at ACAD are Rochelle Cote Interior Design’s Jocelyn Haroldson, Corea Sotropa Interior Design’s Kristin Peila, Vinegar Advertising’s Vincent Law, Reena Sotropa and Rochelle Cote. The glam gourmet evening featured ten distinctive designer-created settings in which guests sipped and supped- all in support of ACAD and Contemporary Calgary.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

Pictured, from left, at Dinner by Design held at ACAD are Lorry Dorren, Audi Royal Oak owner Murray Dorren and ACAD board member Susan Thomas.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

All smiles at Dinner by Design held at ACAD is interior designer Amanda Hamilton. Hamilton was one of ten acclaimed designers who created unique and fantastical tablescapes.Bill Brooks /
for the Calgay Herald

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